Rail-joint.



J. A. PATTERSON.

RAIL JOINT.

Patented July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS SHEET l.

J. A. PATTERSON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. I911. RENEWED 05c. 2|. 1911.

1 ,273,660. Pqtented July 23, 1918.

f2SHEETSSHEET 2.

WOW W JOSEP A. PATTERSON, 0F WAYNESB BG, PENNSYL ANIA,

nAit-Jomr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed March 26 1917, Serial No. 157,437. Renewed December21, 1917. Serial No. 208,323.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. PATTERSON, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Waynesburg, in the county of Greene and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and has more especial reference toan improved type of scarf joint.

The invention has for its dominant object to provide a rail joint,wherein the abutting ends of the rail sections are so formed as topermit interlocking thereof in a manner to prevent spreading orseparating of the same, without the use of fish or angle plates.

It is also an object of the invention to pro vide a novel look forconnectin the interengaged portions of the rail sections, the lockserving as additional means for preventing relative lateral movement ofthe said sections.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited, theprovision of a joint of the character mentioned with a view tocompactness and in which the parts are few, the construction simple, thecost of production small, and efficiency and operation high.

All the foregoing together with additional advantageous details andarrangement of parts of the preferred embodiment of my invention will beclear from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read inconnection with the accompanying drawing, forming parts thereof, whereinsaid embodiment of the invention is illustrated for the purpose offacilitating a full understanding of the present improvement.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved 'oint;

1 Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the same, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the interengaging portions of the supportingrail ends disassembled.

Similar characters of reference are emloyed in all of the abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the saidrawing, there is provided a. plurality of rail sections 1 and 2, theadjaopnt l361111tl8 of which are pro vided with reduced portions 3 and 4so formed as to permit intercngaging thereof. A plurality of dove-tailedrecesses 5 are formed within the upper face of the reduced portion 3while at a point adjacent the inner extremity of the said reducedportion there is formed an inclined recess or pocket 6. Longitudinallydisposed slidable looking bolts 7 having notches formed therein arearranged within the lower reduced portion 3 and have their adjacentextremities extending into a pocket 8 in which there is positioned aneXpansible coil-spring 9, the opposite extremities or convolutions ofwhich engage the adjacent portions of the locking bolts, thus, servingas means for'normally maintaining the same in their distended position.That portion of the tread of the rail section 1 adjacent its respectivereduced portion 3 is cut diagonally as at 10, for a purpose which willbe subsequently apparent.

Upon the underface of the reduced portion 4 of the rail section 2, thereare formed a plurality of dove-tailed projections 11, the saidprojections being so formed and arranged as to permit the snug receptionthereof in the recesses 5 formed in the reduced portion 3, while incertain of the sides there of, pockets 12 are formed whereby theextremities of the slidable locking bolts 7 may be received therein. Anextension 13 is formed upon the outer extremity of the reduced portion4. and is of a shape to permit the same to be snugly received within thepocket 6 formed in the reduced portion of the rail section 1. The outerextremity of the said portion of the reduced portion 4: is out at anangle complemental to the cutting of the portion of the tread of therail section 1 whereby a close jointure between the same will bepermitted.

It is to be noted that the dove-tailed recesses are of a size to permit.loose engagement of the projections therein, thus allowing for expansionof the same. The slight space between the recesses and projections willpermit the introduction of an implement thereinto, which, when engagedwith the notches in the slidable bolts may be moved to cause theretraction of the same, and, as a consequence, allowing the railsections to be disengaged.

From the above, it will be understood that by the beveled and undercutarrangement of the dovetailed recesses and projegtigns a and 11respectively, the interengagingv re duced portions 3 and 4 Will beprevented.

from having excessive lateral"inoveinenfiand also from movingvertically. The slidable locking bolts 7 which are engaged in tl'i'epockets. formed in the dove-tailed projections 1-1 will serve as meansfor preventing lateral movement of: the reduced portions. in thedirection taken to engage the reduced portions andias. a; eonsequences-preading;.o ii the railsdue to relativelateral movement thereoiiWillbe prevented; Relative longitudinal movement of the rail sectionsWill be: also, prevented diieto the interlocking. en agement of: thereduced portionsof the- "sarne i- While as above stated, vertical moves;ment-J ot; the; same will: be prevented due to.

the combined effortsi ofthe dove-tailed proj ectionsand, recesses andthe in clined: pocket (Sandtherhead-B. e

Obviously, the construction shown is capae bleof: considerablemodification and; such; inodification as' is W1th1:n:.the'seope ofinyClad 1113 I: consider; Within: the spirit ofin'iy invention. I v r vIFcIa/imr V 1 p v 1;.IIn railijoint, therabuttiiig endsofi therai1s-being reduced and. adapted llOi interengage, one oi the reducedportiens==hav-' ingi a: dovetail rece'ss formed therein, the:

' other ofthe reduced portions havingrazdovee taiLr. roi'ectionthe oro'ectionwbei r-"en a e- P. 7 1 is a z:

ablewith the-recess of the opposite reduced? Copies: of this patent may.abeiobtainerf-tors portion; and. a pluralityof longitudinally'slidable:lockingabolts arranged i'nzszridnproj ection-z- 1n one portionand? engageable with:

fives cents each byadd re ssi Washington, D. 0;

the. oppositesides of the recess of the other 7 portion 2; In a railjoint, theab'utting ends of the? rails being reduced and adapted tointerengage, one of the reduced portions having ,dove-.tailed recessesformed therein. and. an i'ncli'ned pocket formed adjacent its in nerextremity, the other; oi the-reduced? portions having dove-tailedprojections thereon and a beveled extension;formedlonth'ei-outer end;thereof; said projections and extension beingxreceivwblein"the-recessesand pocket respeetivel r, locking: means secured one reduced? por witch:longitudinally sl-idable* tion and:v e-ngageeble: with the dowe-teiledof the": said 1 portions of the abutting :rail

sections rbeingz beveled, and a: plurality oft longitudinally slidablelocking; bolts ellranged inone of. thev reduced portions and engageableWith the dove-tailed projections ofthebther portiont.v r v Initestirnony; whereof I ailix: my signature hereto. r I e r V 5 JiQSEPH A.PATTERSQN;

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